Douche bag holder

ABSTRACT

A douche bag holder having a mounting base for attachment to a supporting surface, a hanger on the base for releasable attachment to the neck of the bag, and a cup-shaped support on the base below the hanger for receiving and supporting the bottom of the bag both vertically and laterally. The bag support has a slot which extends from the center of the bottom support wall radially outward through the edge of the wall and then upwardly through the support side wall to and through the upper edge of the latter wall for receiving the douche bag tube in a position wherein the tube hangs freely below the bottom wall.

United States Patent 1 Warren et a1.

[ 1 Feb. 5, 1974 1 DOUCl-IE BAG HOLDER [76] Inventors: Chris W. Warren;Evelyn J.

Warren, both of 2535 S. M ountain Ave., Duarte, Calif. 91010 [22] Filed:Mar. 1, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 230,846

[52] U.S. Cl. 248/311 [51] Int. Cl A47k 3/22 [58] Field of Search248/95, 311, 314, DIG. 2;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,020,711 11/1935 Warr222/181 2,296,700 9/1942 Branstetter et a1. 248/311 UX 1,189,586 7/1916La Jeunesse; 128/226 553,752 1/1896 Goff 3,507,278 4/1970 Werding3,123,254 3/1964 Rabby et a1 222/185 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS1,523,329 3/1968 France 222/181 Primary ExaminerWilliam.H. SchultzAttorney, Agent, or FirmBoniard I. Brown 5 7] ABSTRACT A douche bagholder having a mounting base for attachment to a supporting surface, ahanger on the base for releasable attachment to the neck of the bag, anda cup-shaped support on the base below the hanger for receiving andsupporting the bottom of the bag both vertically and laterally. The bagsupport has a slot which extends from the center of the bottom supportwall radially outward through the edge of the wall and then upwardlythrough the support side wall to and through the upper edge of thelatter wall for receiving the douche bag tube in a position wherein thetube hangs freely below the bottom wall.

2 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures DOUCHE BAG HOLDER BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates generally tothe field of feminine hygiene and more particularly to a novel douchebag holder.

2. Discussion of the Prior Art As is well known to those versed in theart, a douche bag is a feminine hygiene device having a bag proper withan upper filler opening through which the bag may be filled withdouching liquid and a tube extending from the bottom of the bag throughwhich the liquid may drain by gravity from the bag during use. Thedouche bag commonly has a neck through which the filler openingpassesand which is provided with a hole to receive a hanger, such as a hook,for hanging the bag in an elevated position. The bag is constructed ofrubber 01' other relatively thin flexible material which tends tostretch and tear at the hanger receiving hole under the weight of liquidin the bag. Accordingly, it is advisable or necessary to support thebottom of the bag when filled.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIO The present invention provides a douche bagholder which is uniquely constructed to both suspend the'bag in anupright elevated position of use and support the bottom of the bag bothvertically and laterally so as to prevent stretching and tearing of thebag. To this end, the holder has a mounting base for attachment to asupporting surface, such as a wall. At the top'of the base is a hangerfor releasable attachment to the neck of the bag to suspend the latterin an upright position with its filler opening uppermost. This hanger ispreferably a hook for insertion through the hanger hole in the bag neck.On the mounting base below the hanger is a support for the bottom of thebag. This support carries the weight of the liquid in the bag to preventthe latter from stretching and tearing. The support has an openingthrough which the tube of the douche bag may extend in free hangingrelation below the support.

The douche bag support of the disclosed inven-tive embodiment is anupwardly opening cup for receiving the bottom portion of the bag. Thiscup has a bottom wall which supports the bag against vertical distensionand an annular wall which surrounds the bag and confines the latteragainst lateral or horizontal distension. The tube receiving opening ofthe bag support is a slot which extends radially from the center throughthe edge of the bottom cup wall and then upwardly through the cup sidewall to and through its upper edge to permit lateral insertion andremoval of the douche bag tube into and from the opening or slot.Preferably, the

I entire holder including its mounting base, hanger, and

bag support is molded in one piece from plastic.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectionthrough the holder; and

FIG. 3 is a top view of the holder.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The drawings illustrate a holderaccording to the invention for a douche bag 12. Douche bag 12 has a bag14 proper with an upper neck 16 and a lower tube 18 extending from thebottom of the bag. Passing through the neck 16 is a filler opening 20through which the bag may be filled with a douching liquid. The neckwall has an opening 22 for receiving a hanger, such as a hook.

Douche bag holder 10 has a mounting base 24 in the form of a flat platefor attachment in any convenient way to a supporting surface, such as awall. Projecting from the front side of the base adjacent its upper endis a hanger 26 for releasable attachment to the douche bag neck 16. Theparticular hanger shown is a hook for insertion through the hangeropening 22 in the neck. On the front side of the mounting base 24 belowthe hanger 26 is a douche bag support 28 which supports the bottom ofthe douche bag 14 to prevent the latter from stretching and tearingunder the weight of the liquid in the bag. Support 28 has an opening 30through which the douche bag tube 18 extends in free hanging fashionbelow the support.

The particular douche bag support 28 illustrated is an upwardly openingcup having a bottom wall 32 and an annular side wall 34 rising from thebottom wall. The tube receiving opening 30 is a slot which extendsradially from the center through the outer edge of the bottom cup wall32 and then upwardly through the cup side wall 34 to and through itsupper edge.

In use, the douche bag holder 10 is attached in an elevated position toa wall or other supporting surface. The douche bag 14 is filled withdouching liquid and is then placed in the holder by first inserting itstube 18 laterally through the tube slot 30 to the closed inner end ofthe slot and thereafter lowering the bag into the bag support cup 28.The hanger or hook 26 is attached to the neck 16 of the bag by passingthe hook through the hanger opening 22 in the neck.

The hook 26 supports or suspends the douche bag 14 in an uprightposition with its filler opening 20 uppermost, as shown, to prevent thedouching liquid from spilling from the bag. The bottom wall 32 of thesupport cup 28 supports the bag against vertical stretching ordistension under the weight of the liquid. The cup side wall 34surrounds the bag and confines the latter against lateral or horizontaldistension under the force of the liquid.

As shown in the drawings, the inner closed end of the bag support tubeslot 30 may be enlarged to the outer diameter of the douche bag tube 18such that the tube may slide freely in this slot end. The remainder ofthe slot may be somewhat narrower than the tube diameter so that thetube 18 must be flattened when inserting it through the slot. Uponentering the enlarged inner end of the slot, the tube expands to itsnormal circular cross-section and is thereby releasably retained in theinner slot end.

What is claimed as new in support of Letters Patent 1. A holder for adouche bag having an upper neck portion with a filler opening throughwhich the bag may be filled with a douching liquid, and a tube extendingfrom the bottom of the-bag, said holder comprising:

a mounting base for attachment to a supporting surface,

a hanger on said base for releasable attachment to said bag neck,

3 4 an upwardly opening cup on said base below said ally.

hanger for receiving said bag and having a bottom 2 A d h b h ldaccording to l i 1 wall for supporting said bag vertically and anannuwherein: side wall for Supporting Said bag laterally and said baghas an opening through the wall of said neck said cup having a slotextending from the center of 5 said bottom cup wall radially outwardthrough the edge of said bottom wall and then upwardly through said cupside wall to and through the upper Said neck wall p edge of said sidewall for receiving said tube laterand said hanger comprises a hook forinsertion through

1. A holder for a douche bag having an upper neck portion with a filleropening through which the bag may be filled with a douching liquid, anda tube extending from the bottom of the bag, said holder comprising: amounting base for attachment to a supporting surface, a hanger on saidbase for releasable attachment to said bag neck, an upwardly opening cupon said base below said hanger for receiving said bag and having abottom wall for supporting said bag vertically and an annular side wallfor supporting said bag laterally, and said cup having a slot extendingfrom the center of said bottom cup wall radially outward through theedge of said bottom wall and then upwardly through saId cup side wall toand through the upper edge of said side wall for receiving said tubelaterally.
 2. A douche bag holder according to claim 1 wherein: said baghas an opening through the wall of said neck, and said hanger comprisesa hook for insertion through said neck wall opening.